AN: thanks for all the reviews, I like to get feedback. Also, Brennan is still MIA, and that may or may not be dealt with as I have several different ideas for where this fic is going. As always please enjoy reading and review afterwards, thanks
Emma awoke to a beautiful, smiling feral who lay propped up on an elbow gazing down at her.
"Hey sleepy-head," Shalimar greeted her lover.
"Mmm hey," Emma smiled lazily, her body screaming out to touch Shalimar's perfect body.
"Sleep well?" Shalimar enquired.
"Yeah, you wore me out. What time is it?" Emma answered the feral who happened to be grinning like a Cheshire cat as she frequently did.
"About 3am, you hungry? We could get something to eat whilst it's quiet," Shalimar said, her free hand soothingly stroking Emma's forehead.
"No, I'm good but if you want something don't let me stop you,"
"The only thing I want is right here beside me," Shalimar spoke, her voice thick with desire.
"Shal?"
"Em?" Shalimar responded a seductive glint in her soft brown eyes.
"Adam doesn't know we're a couple right?" Emma asked.
"Right. Em, where's this going?" Shalimar couldn't help but wonder, not wanting to get into this right now, when she was feeling rather horny.
"I think we should tell him. He deserves our honesty," Emma said missing the glimmer of hurt that passed through the brown eyes she loved.
"Emma, you're practically part of the team. Adam has always been dead against relationships within the team," Shalimar informed Emma, her desire diminishing rapidly, as if a bucket of ice cold water had been thrown on the fire within.
"But I don't like the idea of keeping us a secret. I love you Shalimar and I want us to be a proper couple. Not one that has to sneak around at night or stealing the odd kiss and having clandestine moments whenever we can," Emma explained her love for the older woman shining through blatantly.
"Em, it'll be okay," Shalimar tried to offer a degree of reassurance, kissing Emma's lips softly.
"I forgot, you're used to keeping us a secret, sneaking about. Maybe I was right when I decided we should call it a day," Emma couldn't control what she was saying, the words tumbling out of her mouth as if by their own accord. Her emotions now taking over, Emma sat upright in Shalimar's bed, feeling defensive and slightly insecure.
"Emma no. I don't want us to split up. If you want Adam to know about us then he will," Shalimar replied, her love for Emma and her lack of sleep causing her to back down a lot sooner than she would usually have done.
"Honey, us splitting up is the last thing I want," Emma said as she ran a hand through her tousled red hair.
"Then don't throw us away, we'll tell Adam tomorrow. But for now I need my beauty sleep," Shalimar smiled at Emma who returned it with one of her own, accompanied by a kiss.
"Shal, you're already the most beautiful woman alive," Emma complimented, snuggling into the blonde woman's warm, inviting body. Shalimar however watched the moonlight that was streaming through a crack in the curtain, accentuate Emma's striking features.
"Goodnight Em," Shalimar whispered into the younger woman's ear as they settled down to sleep. Shalimar's nerves jangled as if they'd been through a spin-cycle as she thought of the coming day.
"Night," Emma replied, giving Shalimar a lingering kiss before settling her head on Shalimar's chest, listening to her heart beat as she felt her lovers' anxiety running through her body.
Neither woman held out much chance of sleeping too well anymore, although neither wanted to acknowledge to the other that they knew that they were awake. Instead they lay in silence, each of them lost in their own private thoughts.
The following day.
Adam was working hard on one of his projects; with his back to the door he was oblivious to Emma and Shalimar's cautious entrance, an air of nervousness surrounding them both.
"Adam," Shalimar said quietly, unable to rouse Adam from his work, therefore leading her to repeat his name louder.
Turning around, Adam smiled a warm, welcoming smile. "How can I help you both?" Adam asked, picking up on the atmosphere, the tension so tangible, it could be cut with a knife.
Shalimar glanced nervously at Emma, looking deep into her blue eyes, hoping that they would alleviate the swirling inside her head. Emma could only nod lightly, whilst grasping Shalimar's sweaty palm in her own, a nervous smile playing on her lips, all of which were aimed at offering her lover the reassurance she needed.
"Well Adam, we have something we need to tell you," Shalimar nervously told her mentor.
"Well you know you can tell me anything," Adam replied, trying to dispel some of the tension.
"The thing is, Emma and me… We're lovers," Shalimar said, feeling as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, she squeezed Emma's hand tighter.
"Oh, right," Adam paused a moment, allowing their revelation to sink in. "Shal you know my rule on relationships within the team. I think it would be best if you put a stop to it now before it gets too serious,"
"Adam I don't think you realise, I love Shalimar and she loves me," Emma spoke up for the first time.
"Hold on a second, you two have barely known each other five minutes," Adam felt his calm exterior cracking at the absurdity of the situation before him.
"But that's just it; we have been together a couple of years now. It's not just a fling," Emma justified, stealing a glance at Shalimar who looked uneasy.
"Well I guess this predicament leaves me n choice but to ask you Emma to leave Sanctuary and Mutant X. Jesse will have your new identity ready as soon as possible," Adam replied noticing Shalimar's dumbfounded expression.
"No! You can' do this Adam. I love her and if she leaves then so do I," Shalimar spoke out enraged t Adam's decision.
"Shalimar you don't mean that, you just need to calm down," Adam replied unable to comprehend the prospect of losing the woman whom he had considered a daughter for so many years.
"Please don't me choose between my family and the woman I love," Shalimar pleaded, unshed tears pricking her eyes, making them sting and her vision to blur slightly as she fought to regain control of her emotions.
"I have no choice Shalimar," Adam's words felt feeble to him as they left his lips.
Shalimar yanked her hand free of Emma's and fled the lab, the tears now coursing freely down her flawless cheeks. Emma followed her lover after giving Adam and icy glare.